An annular dose indicator (50) for use with a dispenser comprising a dispensing canister (10) comprising a substantially cylindrical container (1) having a closed end (2) and an open end (3), said open end of the container being equipped with a dispensing means (4) that comprises an outlet member (5) movable between closed and discharge positions and an adaptor comprising a support block (21) having a socket (22) adapted to receive the outlet member, the container and support block being reciprocally movable relative to each other to cause the outlet member to move to its discharge position thereby dispensing a dose, said annular dose indicator (50) comprising an annular housing (60) having an interior surface (64) defining a substantially circumferential cavity; a counter-ring (80), said counter-ring located in the cavity and being arranged to be moveable relative to the housing by rotation about an axis parallel or substantially parallel to linear reciprocal movement of container and support block; a driving member (90) mounted on the interior surface of the housing, said driving member engaging the counter-ring and being arranged to be selectively engaged during reciprocal movement of container and support block as to drive an incremental, rotational movement of the counter-ring; wherein said indicator (50) is arranged to be circumferentially mountable about the dispensing-canister (10), such that the first edge (51) of the indicator faces towards the closed end of the container, the second edge (52) of the indicator faces towards the outlet of the dispensing canister, so that at least the outlet member of the canister will extend beyond the second edge of the indicator.
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4. A dispensing canister-indicator assembly comprising a dispensing canister comprising a substantially cylindrical container having a closed end and an open end, said open end of the container being equipped with a dispenser that comprises an outlet member, having an outlet, movable between closed and discharge positions;
and an annular mechanical dose indicator mounted circumferentially about the dispensing canister and secured to an external surface of the dispensing canister, such that a first edge of the indicator faces towards the closed end of the container and a second edge of the indicator faces towards the outlet of the dispensing canister, so that at least the outlet member of the canister extends beyond the second edge of the indicator.
9. A canister-indicator assembly kit, comprising:
a dispensing canister comprising a substantially cylindrical container having a closed end and an open end, said open end of the container being equipped with a dispenser that comprises an outlet member, having an outlet, movable between closed and discharge positions; and
an annular mechanical dose indicator arranged to be mounted circumferentially about the dispensing-canister and secured to an external surface of the dispensing canister, such that a first edge of the indicator faces towards the closed end of the container and a second edge of the indicator faces towards the outlet of the dispensing canister, so that at least the outlet member of the canister extends beyond the second edge of the indicator.
11. An annular mechanical dose indicator for use with a dispensing canister comprising a substantially cylindrical container having a closed end and an open end, said open end of the container being equipped with a dispensing means that comprises an outlet member, having an outlet, movable between closed and discharge positions,
said annular mechanical dose indicator being arranged to be mounted circumferentially about the dispensing-canister and secured to an external surface of the dispensing canister, such that a first edge of the indicator faces towards the closed end of the container and a second edge of the indicator faces towards the outlet of the dispensing canister, so that at least the outlet member of the canister extends beyond the second edge of the indicator.
1. An annular dose indicator for use with a dispenser comprising (a) a dispensing canister comprising a substantially cylindrical container having a closed end and an open end, said open end of the container being equipped with a dispensing means that comprises an outlet member, having an outlet, movable between closed and discharge positions and (b) an adaptor comprising a support block having a socket adapted to receive the outlet member, the container and support block being reciprocally movable relative to each other to cause the outlet member to move to its discharge position thereby dispensing a dose from the container,
comprising
an annular housing having an interior surface defining a substantially circumferential cavity;
a counter-ring, said counter-ring located in the cavity and being arranged to be moveable relative to the housing by rotation about an axis substantially parallel to linear reciprocal movement of container and support block;
a driving member mounted on the interior surface of the housing, said driving member engaging the counter-ring and being arranged to be selectively engaged during reciprocal movement of container and support block as to drive an incremental, rotational movement of the counter-ring;
wherein said indicator is arranged to be slidably mountable about the dispensing canister and secured to an external surface of the dispensing canister, such that a first edge of the indicator faces towards the closed end of the container and a second edge of the indicator faces towards the outlet of the dispensing canister, so that at least the outlet member of the dispensing canister will extend beyond the second edge of the indicator.
2. An annular dose indicator according to
3. An annular dose indicator according to
5. A canister-indicator assembly according to
6. A canister-indicator assembly according to
7. A canister-indicator assembly according to
a counter-ring, said counter-ring located in the cavity and being arranged to be moveable relative to the housing by rotation about an axis parallel or substantially parallel to linear reciprocal movement of container and support block; and
a driving member mounted on the interior surface of the housing, said driving member engaging the counter-ring and being arranged to be selectively engaged during reciprocal movement of container and support block as to drive an incremental, rotational movement of the counter-ring.
8. A canister-indicator assembly according to
10. A canister-indicator assembly according to any one of
12. An annular mechanical dose indicator according to
13. A dispenser for dispensing doses of medicament comprising a canister-indicator assembly according to
14. A dispenser according to
15. A dispenser according to
16. A dispenser according to
17. A dispenser according to
18. A dispenser according to
20. A dispenser according to
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This application claims priority from European Application No. 02012173.7 filed Jun. 30, 2002, which was filed as PCT International Application No. PCT/US03/15924 on May 19, 2003.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to annular mechanical dose indicators, particularly suitable for use with medicinal dispensers, more particularly metered dose inhalers. The present invention also relates to dispensing canister-indicator assemblies, in particular such assemblies including medicinal aerosol dispensing canisters, more particular pressurized metered dose dispensing canisters, as well as dispensers comprising such dispensing canister-indicator assemblies.
2. Background of the Invention
Inhalation therapy is becoming an increasingly important method of administering medicaments to a patient. The medicament is generally formulated with suitable propellant and if appropriate other components and charged into a container, e.g. an aerosol vial. The container is typically fitted by means of a ferrule with a dispensing means, such a valve, in particular a metered dose valve, comprising an elongate outlet member (e.g. a valve stem) movable between closed and discharged positions, to provide a dispensing canister. The dispensing canister is typically used in conjunction with an adaptor, typically having a patient port, for example a mouthpiece or a port adapted for nasal use. The adaptor comprises a support block having a socket adapted to receive the outlet member of the dispensing means and an orifice having open communication with the socket and the patient port. The container and the support block are reciprocally movable relative to each other to allow the outlet member to move to its discharge position during the operation or firing of the device, thereby dispensing a dose.
With a conventional press-and-breathe device in which the patient fires the device by depressing the container towards the support block of the adaptor, while inhaling, a rough indication of the amount of medicament remaining in the vial can be obtained by shaking the whole unit. With experience, the user can distinguish the difference in ‘feel’ between a vial that is substantially full and one that is substantially empty. However, this method is necessarily far from precise and is even less satisfactory with a breath-actuated inhaler in which, because of the additional parts, the mass of the aerosol contents is a smaller proportion of the total unit weight. Thus, a difficulty arising from use of such known devices is that the patient cannot precisely determine the amount of medicament in the container at any given time. In extreme cases, a patient, possibly in an emergency situation and requiring an immediate dose of medicament, may find that the container will not dispense a dose because its contents have already been exhausted.
Although a number of dose counters or indicators for metered dose medicinal products have been proposed over the last decade, no pressurized metered dose inhaler with a built in dose counter has yet been marketed.
Proposed dose indicators include electrical and/or electronic dose counters, see for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,622,163 and WO 92/17231. Such counters can be disadvantageous in that they are relatively expensive. Furthermore, such counters require the use of a power source, such as a battery. Accordingly the reliability of such counters is overshadowed by the reliability of the power source itself. Here it is to be appreciated that some patients, e.g. asthma sufferers, often carry a device with them for extended periods of time and may only use the device on an occasional basis. If during this extended period the power source is exhausted or runs out, the patient would be again faced with uncertainty about the precise number of doses contained in the device.
A number of mechanical dose counters have also been proposed. Most of these counters comprise quite a number individual components and/or require significant modification of the inhaler device, in particular the adaptor. This makes mass production and assembly often complicated and/or tedious. A number of mechanical dose counters require additional counter-containing structures. For example, each of the documents, U.S. Pat. No. 5,421,482, U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,355, U.S. Pat. No. 5,817,007, U.S. Pat. No. 6,082,358, EP 0 254 391, EP 0 949 584, WO 95/34874 and WO 99/57019, relate to dose counting devices, which are provided on the exterior of an existing inhaler as an add-on counter-component. Such add-on counters suffer a number of disadvantages, including increased overall dimensions of the device resulting in a reduced ease in handling of the device.
GB 1,317,315, GB 1,290,484, GB 2,320,489, DE 298 14 647, U.S. Pat. No. 5,349,945, U.S. Pat. No. 5,482,030, WO 92/09324 and WO 98/56444, for example, relate to devices with dose counters located substantially beneath the container in a region near the outlet means of the dispensing means and near or around the support block of the adaptor. Such arrangements can be disadvantageous in that modification of the adaptor geometry, such as greater dimensions, in the critical region where atomization takes place is generally required. Furthermore, such counters are often not applicable for breath-actuated devices, because this region usually contains the trigger mechanism for the breath-actuated firing of the device.
WO 93/24167 for example proposes actuating means for triggering breath-actuated firing with an associated dose indicator as a type of add-on system at the end of the dispensing canister distant to the outlet member, which disadvantageously increases the overall dimensions of the device and correspondingly reduces general handleability of the device.
WO 00/59806 also relates to devices having an adaptor provided with a dose-indicating means.
EP 0 414 536 discloses a breath-actuated inhaler having an indicator with a ring mechanism located in the adaptor and mounted for rotation.
Another problem is that many dose counters do not differentiate between the same container being removed and put back in the adaptor (e.g. for cleaning) and a new container being inserted as a replacement, so that the count may or may not properly reset to the beginning.
Thus, there is an ongoing need for a simple, reliable, inexpensive, unobtrusive mechanical dose counter for use with a dispenser, such as a medicinal dispenser or more particularly a metered dose inhaler.
Moreover, there is a need for a mechanical dose counter for use with a dispenser comprising a dispensing canister comprising a substantially cylindrical container having a closed end and an open end, said open end of the container being equipped with a dispensing means that comprises an outlet member movable between closed and discharge positions and an adaptor comprising a support block having a socket adapted to receive the outlet member, the container and support block being reciprocally movable relative to each other to cause the outlet member to move to its discharge position thereby dispensing a dose.
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided an annular dose indicator comprising
Typically, the two edges of the annular dose indicator are defined by the two edges of the annular housing.
Suitably the driving member is engaged by the adaptor, in particular an element thereof, during the reciprocal movement of the container and support block as to drive an incremental, rotational movement of the counter-ring. The incremental rotation of the counter-ring is suitably indicative of the successive dose firings.
The outer side of the counter-ring is preferably adjacent to the interior surface of the housing. The outer side of the counter-ring advantageously comprises indicia which are viewable through the housing to provide a visual indication of the total quantity of doses dispensed from, or remaining in, the container.
The indicator is preferably arranged such that the counter-ring is locatable about a portion of the container. Desirably the inner side of the counter-ring is adjacent to an exterior surface of the container.
More particularly, for use with dispensing canisters in which the container is equipped with a dispensing means by means of a ferrule, said ferrule having a seal-edge (an external edge of the ferrule near to where the open end of the container is sealed), the indicator is preferably arranged such that the counter-ring is locatable about a portion of the container and/or a portion of the ferrule. Desirably, the inner side of the counter-ring is adjacent to an exterior surface of the container and/or the ferrule. Preferably, the indicator is arranged, such that the second edge of the indicator is locatable near, more preferably adjacent to, the seal-edge of the ferrule.
The dose indicator desirably includes at least one stop member provided on the interior surface of the housing and engaging the counter-ring to prevent substantial movement of counter-ring along said axis. In another preferred embodiment the dose indicator further comprises at least one non-return member provided on the interior surface of the housing, said non-return member engaging the counter-ring to permit incremental rotation of the counter-ring in only one direction. The stop member and/or the non-return member are desirably integral with the housing, more desirably form-molded elements on the interior surface of the housing. Desirably, the stop member is integral with the non-return member, more desirably the stop member is simultaneously the non-return member.
Annular dose indicators according to the invention are advantageous in that the indicator can be manufactured independent of the dispensing-canister and the adaptor to provide a self-contained assembly. They can be easily mounted around the dispensing canister by sliding the indicator over the outlet- or container-end of the dispensing canister, as the case may be. This simplifies the production and handling of the indicator itself as well as the assembly of a complete dispenser or a dispensing-canister/indicator assembly. Production is also simplified in that the dose indicators according to the invention and in particular certain preferred embodiments thereof include a limited number of components. Because the counter-ring and driving member are located or mounted within the housing of the indicator, the sensitive components of the indicator are protected, providing desirable robustness, ease in handling as well as resistance to tampering during use.
In use, dose indicators according to the invention are located substantially about the dispensing-canister and above the outlet means, and thus the indicator can be advantageously used in both press-and-breathe inhalers and breath-actuated inhalers, in which the triggering or breath actuation mechanism is located near or about the support of the adaptor. Also because the indicators are positioned about the dispensing-canister, so that the first edge of indicator, which faces towards the closed end of the container, does not extend axially beyond the closed end of the container, a necessary increase in axial dimensions can be avoided, which is particularly advantageous in a portable inhaler.
Dose indicators according to the invention can be readily used with various types of dispensing canisters. Certain preferred embodiments of the dose indicator are particularly advantageous for use with dispensing canisters having a container, whose diameter of its outermost circumference is greater than the diameter of the outermost circumference of the ferrule and/or a container having a constricted portion, if applicable near or adjacent to the ferrule (distant to the outlet member). Here the space formed by the recess in the dispensing-canister-profile can be advantageously used for the components of the dose indicator, for example the counter-ring and thus the overall dimensions of the counter-ring and/or indicator can be kept in relation to the dispensing-canister to aminimum. Containing the dose indicator within the profile of the dispensing canister may also have an additional advantage of interfering less with the airflow through and within a dispenser or adaptor. In particular for use with such canisters, it is preferred that the diameter of the outermost circumference of the counter-ring is less than the diameter of the outermost circumference of the container.
It is preferred that the diameter of the outermost circumference of the indicator (typically the outermost circumference of the housing of the indicator) is less than, equal to or substantially equal to (i.e. ±up to 0.5 mm, more preferably ±up to 0.03 mm) the diameter of the outermost circumference of dispensing canister, in particular the container. More preferably the outermost circumference of the indicator, in particular the housing, is equal to or substantially equal to the outermost circumference of the dispensing canister.
Furthermore dose indicators, in particular the housing, can be advantageously secured to an external surface of the dispensing canister, preferably to an external surface of the container or, if applicable the ferrule of the dispensing canister, to provide a self-contained canister/indicator assembly.
The provision of a dispensing-canister/indicator assembly as a self-contained or single unit in which the indicator is located substantially about the dispensing canister (e.g. the container of the canister and/or the canister closure means) and above the outlet means of the canister is particularly advantageous, because such an assembly is desirably robust. Furthermore such an assembly allows for desirable ease in handling and assembly of a complete dispenser. In particular, the insertion of the outlet means into the support block of an adaptor, is desirably facilitated for large scale assembly and more importantly, if desired, by a patient, because the outlet means of the dispensing-canister is unobstructed by components of a dose counter.
Accordingly, in another aspect of the present invention there is provided a canister-indicator assembly comprising
Preferably the indicator is secured to an external surface of the container. In particular the indicator is desirably secured to the external surface of the container in the vicinity of the first edge of the indicator.
Preferred embodiments comprise a dispensing canister in which the container is equipped with a dispensing means by means of a ferrule, said ferrule typically having a seal-edge near the open end of the container. The indicator is preferably attached to an external surface of the ferrule or the container, more preferably the container. Preferably, the second edge of the indicator is located near, more preferably adjacent to the seal-edge of the ferrule. Desirably, the diameter of its outermost circumference of the container is greater than the diameter of the outermost circumference of the ferrule.
Preferably the diameter of the outermost circumference of the indicator is less than, equal to or substantially equal to (i.e. ±up to 0.5 mm, more preferably ±up to 0.3 mm) the diameter of the outermost circumference of the dispensing canister, in particular the container.
Canister-indicator assemblies according to the invention are particularly suitable for use with an adaptor comprising a support block having a socket adapted to receive the outlet member, the container and support block being reciprocally movable relative to each other to cause the outlet member to move to its discharge position thereby dispensing a dose from the container.
Desirably the annular mechanical dose indicator comprises an annular housing having an interior surface defining a substantially circumferential cavity;
Another aspect of the present invention is a canister-indicator assembly in kit of parts form comprising
A further aspect of the present invention is an annular mechanical dose indicator for use with a dispensing canister comprising a substantially cylindrical container having a closed end and an open end, said open end of the container being equipped with a dispensing means that comprises an outlet member movable between closed and discharge positions, said annular mechanical dose indicator being arranged to be mounted circumferentially about the dispensing-canister and secured to an external surface of the dispensing canister, such that the first edge of the indicator faces towards the closed end of the container and the second edge of the indicator faces towards the outlet of the dispensing canister, so that at least the outlet member of the canister extends beyond the second edge of the indicator.
In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dispenser for dispensing doses of medicament comprising a canister-indicator assembly as described above and an adaptor comprising a support block having a socket adapted to receive the outlet member of the dispensing-canister, the container and support block being reciprocally movable relative to each other to cause the outlet member to move to its discharge position thereby dispensing a dose from the container.
Desirably the adaptor, in particular an element thereof, is arranged to selectively engage the dose indicator, in particular an element thereof, during reciprocal movement of the container and support block as to drive an incremental count of the number of doses dispensed from or remaining in the container.
The adaptor preferably comprises an elongate or generally cylindrical portion extending opposite the support block defining a chamber, in which the dose indicator and at least a portion of the container of the canister-indicator assembly are locatable. Desirably the canister-indicator assembly is reversibly removable from the adaptor. In particular, the end of the cylindrical portion distant to the support block is unobstructed and the canister-indicator assembly can be reversibly inserted and removed from the chamber of the adaptor. There may be situations in which it is desired to minimize access to the dose indicator, dispensing-canister or possibly other internal components of a dispenser by the patient. In such cases, preferably the dose indicator and at least a portion of, more particularly the entire container are located within said chamber and the canister-indicator assembly is irremovable from the adaptor or sealed within the adaptor.
Preferably the adaptor comprises a patient port, wherein the support has an orifice having open communication with the socket and the patient port. The patient port may be detachable to allow washing and cleaning thereof. For those embodiments in which the adaptor includes an elongate or generally cylindrical portion, the detachable portion would preferably include the support block to facilitate washing and cleaning of the support block and the orifice. For such embodiments, desirably the dispensing canister-indicator assembly is non-removably located within the elongate or generally cylindrical portion of the adaptor.
The dispenser may be a non-pressurized metered dose pump spray dispenser or pressurized metered dose dispenser suitable for inhalation, nasal or sublingual administration of medicament. The dispenser is preferably a pressurized metered dose inhaler, more particularly a press-and-breathe inhaler or a breath-actuated inhaler.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings.
It is to be understood that the present invention covers all combinations of particular and preferred aspects of the invention described herein.
For a better understanding of the various aspects of the present invention, exemplary dispensing canisters suitable for use with the present invention as well as two exemplary conventional adaptors will be initially described in the following.
In
Referring to
Referring to
Suitably, the container may be equipped with the dispensing means by means of a ferrule. The second edge (52) of the indicator is preferably located near, more preferably adjacent to, the seal-edge of the ferrule (not visible in
As can be recognized in the preferred embodiment depicted in
As shown in
The diameter of the outermost circumference of the indicator is preferably less than, equal to (e.g. as depicted in the preferred embodiment of
The dispensing canister desirably comprises a container having constricted portion, in particular distant to the closed end of the container and a non-constricted portion towards the closed end of the container. The first edge of the indicator is desirably near or adjacent to the boundary between the constricted and non-constricted portion. In preferred embodiments comprising dispensing-canisters comprising a ferrule, desirably the diameter of the outermost circumference of the container is greater than the diameter of the outermost circumference of the ferrule
The annular housing (60) has an interior surface (64) defining a substantially circumferential cavity. Although the housing is preferably in the form of a closed ring, as shown in
The annular housing (60) may be made of any suitable rigid, durable material, such as metal, plastic or combinations of these materials. Plastic is preferred since it can be molded, preferably by high precision molding, into a finished piece and thereby may be less expensive to manufacture. Preferably the housing comprises a transparent or translucent plastic. Suitable plastics include rigid, ductile polymers having good impact strength, for example IZOD impact strength greater than or equal to 65 KJ/m2, preferably greater than or equal to 70 KJ/m2 as determined by the method ISO 180-4β. For optimal molding, the polymer desirably exhibits good melt flow behavior, for example a polymer having a melt temperature around 280° C. would desirably exhibit a melt volume-flow rate as determined by ISO 1133 at 300° C., 1.2 kg from 17 to 30 (preferably 17 to 22) cm3/10 min. Polycarbonates are preferred. The housing is desirably provided with a window (67), optionally a magnifying window. The window may be formed as a cut-out portion of the housing, as a polished portion of the housing or as fitted window in the housing.
The internal surface (63) of the housing (60) may be provided with one or more additional, preferably integral, more preferably form-molded components. For example, the internal surface is desirably provided with a bearing element (70) to facilitate the mounting of the driving member (90) on the interior surface of the housing. The internal surface of the housing is desirably provided with an annular ridge (71) to help support and position the counter ring (80). The annular ridge is typically non-continuous having two longitudinal edges (72,73) extending towards the second edge (62) of the housing. A limit member (74) may also be desirably provided to facilitate movement of the driving member. The interior surface is preferably provided with at least one stop member (75). The preferred embodiment depicted in
Thickness of housing, including components provided on the interior surface, typically ranges from 0.9 to 3 mm, preferably 1.1 to 2.5 mm, more preferably 1.2 to 1.7 mm, most preferably 1.4 to 1.6 mm. The wall thickness of the housing, i.e. excluding components provided on the interior surface, typically ranges from 0.3 to 1.0 mm, preferably 0.4 to 0.75 mm, more preferably about 0.4 to 0.6 mm, most preferably about 0.5 mm.
The counter-ring (80) has an inner (84) and outer (83) side. Although the counter-ring is preferably in the form of a closed ring, as shown in
The counter-ring has two edges (81, 82), the first edge (81) towards the first edge (61) of the housing and the second edge (82) towards the second edge (62) of the housing and the driving member (90). As can be see in
The counter-ring (60) may be made of any suitable rigid, durable material, such as metal, plastic or combinations of these materials. Again due to manufacture considerations and costs, plastic is preferred. Preferably the counter-ring comprises a printable polymer. The counter-ring is typically prepared by high precision molding. Preferably the polymer exhibits good melt flow behavior, for example a polymer having a melt temperature around 220 to 225° C. would desirably exhibit a melt volume-flow rate as determined by ISO 1133 at 250° C., 2.16 kg between 25 and 45 cm3/10 min, preferably 37 to 42 cm3/10 min. Polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) polymers are preferred.
The wall thickness of the counter-ring typically ranges from 0.4 to 2.0 mm, preferably 0.7 to 1.5 mm, more preferably 0.90 to 1.3 mm, most preferably about 0.95 mm.
As depicted in
It should be appreciated that the driving member of the preferred dose indicator of
The driving member (90) may be made of any suitable durable material, such as metal, plastic or combinations of these materials, preferably plastic. For optimal molding, preferably high precision molding, the polymer desirably exhibits good melt flow characteristics. Suitable polymers includes polymers having a Young's modulus greater than or equal to 2500 MPa, preferably greater than or equal to 3000 MPa (as determined by ISO 527 parts I and II) and a tensile strain at break greater than or equal to 4%, preferably greater to or equal to 5.5% (as determined by ISO 527 parts I and II). Preferred are PBT, poly-oxymethylene (POM) and LCP polymers. Desirably the material of each the driving member, housing and counter-ring is selected, such that the frictional behavior between the driving member and each the housing and counter-ring is low, preferably a substrate-substrate friction coefficient less than or equal to 0.3.
The thickness of the driving member, typically having substantially the same thickness as the counter-ring, generally ranges from 0.4 to 2.0 mm, preferably 0.7 to 1.5 mm, more preferably 0.90 to 1.3 mm, most preferably about 0.95 to 1.0 mm.
In assembly of the preferred indicator depicted in
In the embodiment illustrated in
As illustrated in
It is to be appreciated that the dimensions (e.g. outer and inner diameter, height, etc.) of the dose indicator and its respective components will be selected in consideration of the dimensions of particular dispensing canister, on which the indicator will be mounted. In order to provide one example of the possible dimensions of a dose indicator, in the following reference will be made to a dispensing canister and a dose indicator as illustrated in
It should be appreciated that although dose indicators according to the invention are particularly advantageous for use with dispensing-canisters in which the diameter of the outermost circumference of the ferrule is less than the diameter of the outermost circumference of the container, the indicators may be also be advantageous use with dispensing canisters in which the corresponding ferrule diameter is equal to or greater than the diameter of the outermost circumference of the container.
The adaptor (20) comprises a support block (21) having a socket (22) adapted to receive the outlet member (5) of the dispensing-canister (10). The container (1) and the support block (21) are reciprocally movable relative to each other along a linear axis, (marked as “A”) to cause the outlet member to move to its discharge position thereby dispensing a dose from the container. The adaptor desirably includes a patient port, in particular a mouthpiece (23), and the support has an orifice (24) having open communication with the socket and the mouthpiece (23). The adaptor desirably includes an elongate or generally cylindrical portion (25) extending opposite the support block defining a chamber (26), in which the dose indicator (50) and at least a portion of the container (1) of the dispensing-canister are located or locatable. As can be appreciated from
In a comparison to the conventional press-and-breathe inhaler and breath-actuated inhaler adaptors illustrated in
Desirably the adaptor, in particular an element thereof, is arranged to selectively engage the dose indicator, in particular the driving member, during reciprocal movement of the container and support block as to drive an incremental count of the number of doses dispensed from or remaining in the container. More particularly, the adaptor is advantageously provided with an actuation pin (29), typically as a form-molded element of the adaptor. In the embodiment shown in
When the outlet member (5) of the canister-indicator assembly (40) is inserted in the socket (22) of the support block (21), the actuation pin (29) is received within the dose indicator, e.g. passing through a cut-out portion (66) in the second edge (62) of the housing (see
As illustrated in
Upon return to the rest position (as the container of the dispensing-canister moves away from the support block), the dose indicator moves away from the actuation pin (29), such that the head of the actuation pin, in a relative movement, returns to its original position adjacent to the receiving surface (96) of the driving member (90) (see
As shown in
Dispensers in accordance with the invention are suitable for dispensing medicament, in particular medicinal aerosol products e.g. suitable for administration to the lung by nasal or oral inhalation.
It will be understood that the present disclosure of particular preferred embodiments in accordance with the invention is for the purpose of illustration only and the invention extends to modifications, variations and improvements thereof.
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